8 Ivy League STEM Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 5 hours ago
- 6 min read
If you're into science, tech, engineering, or math and want to push your skills beyond the classroom, Ivy League STEM programs for middle school students are a solid place to start. These programs give you a peek into college-level learning and help you explore real-world topics that go way beyond your usual school curriculum. Even better, many of them let you experience what it’s like to be on a college campus or join from home through a structured online setup without spending a fortune.
These opportunities don’t just build your academic skills; they also teach you how to think critically, collaborate with peers, and apply what you're learning in practical ways. You’ll also get to connect with mentors, work on hands-on projects, and sometimes even present your ideas to real scientists or engineers. For students seriously considering a future in STEM, this kind of early exposure can make a big difference.
To help you find programs that are actually worth your time, we’ve narrowed things down to a list of top Ivy League STEM programs for middle school students. Every program here was selected based on how competitive it is, the quality of the academic experience, whether it's funded or offers financial aid, and the reputation of the university behind it.
8 Ivy League STEM Programs for Middle School Students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 1:1 student-to-PhD-mentor ratio
Dates: 8-week program
Application Deadline: August 24 (Fall Cohort)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
Cost: Varies (need-based financial aid is available)
Location: Virtual
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an intensive and highly selective research program providing middle school students the chance to undertake advanced research. The program provides 1-on-1 guidance from PhD mentors from top universities like Harvard, Columbia, and MIT. You are encouraged to pick your subject of interest, which can range anywhere from artificial intelligence to history. Over 8 weeks, this virtual program lets you dive deep into your chosen subject, build high-standard research skills, and complete your own project by the end. Beyond gaining specialized knowledge, you also build the confidence to think critically, innovate, and approach both theoretical and practical academic endeavors with independence.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $650; limited need-based financial aid available
Dates: June 23–June 27
Acceptance Rate: Selective; limited space
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Students entering 7th, 8th, or 9th grade who live and attend school within 60 miles of Penn’s campus; minimum B average required
Penn GEMS is a week-long day camp designed for middle school students interested in exploring STEM in a hands-on, interactive way. Throughout the week, you’ll work on projects in fields like bioengineering, nanotechnology, robotics, computer science, and animation. Activities are designed to be both fun and challenging—one day you might be programming a robot, and the next, you're experimenting with nano-materials or learning how engineers use science to solve real-world problems. The program also focuses on teamwork, problem-solving, and giving you a clearer picture of what it’s like to pursue a future in engineering. You’ll be mentored by Penn students and faculty and walk away with new skills, a deeper understanding of STEM, and a certificate of completion at the end.
Subject Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Python Programming, Data Science
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 - 8; no coding or technical background required
Application Deadline: July 20 (Fall Cohort, early deadline); other sessions may be offered throughout the year
Program Dates: Weekend Track: 25 hours over 10 weekends | Summer Track: 25 hours over 2 weeks (weekdays)
Cost: Varies; full financial aid available for students with demonstrated need
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program introduces you to core concepts in artificial intelligence and machine learning through live instruction and group collaboration. Over the course of 25 hours, you’ll learn Python programming, explore data analysis, and build models using regression and classification techniques. The program includes small-group mentoring (5:1 ratio), ensuring personalized guidance as you move through increasingly advanced topics, including neural networks and AI ethics.
A major component is the team-based capstone project, where you and a few peers apply your new skills to a real-world challenge and present your findings. While the environment is designed for beginners, the curriculum pushes you to think critically about how AI works, and how it should be used.
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: $5,788; includes tuition, housing, and meals
Dates: July 13–July 25
Acceptance Rate: Selective; space limited, often reaches full capacity
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Students completing 8th or 9th grade, ages 13–15 by June 15
This two-week residential program gives you the chance to explore science, technology, engineering, and math through focused academic courses and collaborative projects. You’ll take one course in your chosen STEM field and dive into labs, fieldwork, and research-based challenges. Outside of class, you’ll join structured activities and spend time living on a college campus, gaining a preview of what student life at an Ivy League university is like. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work in a final showcase for your peers, instructors, and family. The experience is meant to be rigorous, but there are no formal grades—just a strong focus on learning, exploration, and working alongside other motivated students.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: Summer Session: July 28 – August 8 | Academic Year Session: November 9 – May 17
Acceptance Rate: Selective; based on academic merit and eligibility
Application Deadline: Summer Session: April 15 | Academic Year: September 15
Eligibility: New York State residents in grades 7–12 who are economically disadvantaged and/or in need of STEM enrichment; must maintain at least an 80% average in math and science
S-PREP is a free enrichment program for students in grades 7 through 12 who are interested in careers in medicine or STEM. Offered by Columbia University, the program runs during both the summer and academic year, with classes covering subjects like anatomy, chemistry, algebra, calculus, and psychology. You’ll also get PSAT or SAT prep, college advising, and take part in career development workshops and field trips. Students who stay involved long-term may also be eligible for advanced summer research opportunities through Columbia’s research institutes. Admission is competitive and based on academic performance, especially in math and science, as well as commitment to the program schedule.
Location: Columbia University (Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center), Online via Zoom
Cost: Free
Dates: July 1–July 30
Acceptance Rate: Open registration until full
Application Deadline: June 23 (or until capacity is reached)
Eligibility: High school students; middle school and undergraduate students may register if interested
Scientific Enrichment Month is a free virtual summer program that introduces students to topics in cancer research, health equity, and public health, while also building professional development skills. Over the course of a month, you’ll attend lectures on cancer biology, health disparities, and environmental impacts on health, alongside sessions on resume writing, interviewing, and public speaking. You’ll also have the chance to join public health working groups that focus on real-world topics like HPV awareness, tobacco prevention, and cancer genetics. At the end of the program, students present their work to families and the community, and those who complete enough sessions earn an HICCC Certificate.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge & Allston, MA
Cost: Free for Harvard Ed Portal members
Dates: July 7–9: Moore Hoops Academy (6th grade only) | August 4–8: Island Hopping: Evolutionary Game Design (Grades 6–8)
Acceptance Rate: Space-limited; placement not guaranteed
Application Deadline: Rolling until programs reach capacity
Eligibility: Students entering grades 1–8 in Fall 2025; must be members of the Harvard Ed Portal (membership is free for Allston-Brighton residents and Gardner Pilot Academy families)
Harvard Summer Explorations offers free, one-week in-person programs for students in the Allston-Brighton area, including a few options tailored to middle schoolers. For rising 6th graders, the Moore Hoops Academy introduces the fundamentals of basketball in a supportive environment led by Harvard Athletics staff. Students entering grades 6–8 can explore biodiversity through science and game design at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, where they’ll design their own ecosystems and create a board game modeled on island biogeography. While spots are limited, each program provides access to unique resources across Harvard’s campus and introduces students to new ways of thinking through active, project-based learning.
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: Free
Dates: Year-round access to events; summer internships typically run from June 30 – August 15
Acceptance Rate: Selective; students must be nominated and accepted
Application Deadline: Nomination forms sent to teachers in May; applications due in June
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12 attending public schools in New Haven, West Haven, or Orange; nomination by a math or science teacher required
Yale Pathways to Science is a free, long-term enrichment program that connects local middle and high school students to STEM opportunities at Yale. Once you’re accepted, you become a Pathways Scholar and can attend over 150 science events each year, including lectures, lab visits, demonstrations, and weekend programs. Past participants have explored astronomy in Yale’s planetarium, worked with neuroscientists to examine brain specimens, and built hands-on projects like rockets and telescopes. During the summer, select Scholars can also apply for full-time research internships. While admission is competitive, accepted students stay in the program through high school and gain broad access to Yale’s science community.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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